GGO meets with Premier Wynne

'The Grower' Icewine Production Podcast

Bill George, past Chair of the Grape Growers of Ontario and current Vice Chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association, was interviewed for The Grower's January podcast on Icewine production. The podcast can be heard at http://thegrower.org/node/1220

Ray Duc, past chair of the Grape Growers of Ontario and Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Assocition, is to receive the 2018 Niagara Peninsula Fruit & Vegetable Growers' Association Award of Merit on March 8, 2018.

Ray farms with his son and brother-in-law on a third generation family farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake, growing grapes and tender fruit, and is owner of Forrer Farms. In addition to his past Chair role, Ray is and has been involved with various other agricultural organizations, including Agricultural Adaptation Council, Farm & Food Care Ontario, Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Service and CANAG. Ray is also on the Advisory Committee for the Greenbelt Foundation.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) begins 2018 with a clear set of priorities to drive our advocacy work throughout the year. The upcoming provincial election will drive much of our advocacy for the first half of this year, along with the other ongoing activities. Some of the issues we work on are ongoing, long-term projects, while others have shorter timelines. The common thread with all these issues is to advocate for the best interests of our 37,000 members.

The Grower Calling – the official podcast channel for The Grower - is pleased to release its tenth-podcast episode and first of 2018 to discuss producing ice wine with Ontario grape grower and past Chair of the Grape Growers of Ontario, Bill George.

The podcast can be heard here and is proudly sponsored by the Grape Growers of Ontario.

The following is an alert regarding grapevine cold hardiness and the low temperatures in regions across Ontario. We are experiencing colder temperatures as a result of a "polar vortex" which has pushed a large system of very cold air into our region. Some of the coldest temperatures are predicted to arrive over the next few days. Current forecasts indicate that temperatures may drop below -20 C in some areas between Thursday and Saturday. Wind will also be associated with these colder temperatures so there may not be inversions or ability to run wind machines due to risk of damage to the machines. However, it is important to be prepared in case temperature mitigation opportunities exist.

We have initial bud survival data posted and are currently assessing bud damage and will continue these efforts following this cold weather.

The untimely death of Karl Kaiser marks a pivotal moment in the Canadian grape and wine business. At 76, he was revered as an icon of the industry co-founding Inniskillin Wines along with Donald Ziraldo in 1975. The advent – and ascent -- of Icewine in Canada is attributed to this duo. Kaiser made it. Ziraldo marketed it.

As industry friends attended his memorial in Niagara-on-the-Lake in early December 2017, they were reminded of how far the Ontario cool-climate region has evolved – in its viticultural practices, its winemaking and its marketing as a destination for quality wine. No one knows the story better than Gerald Klose because he was at the side of these two pioneers decades ago.

December 31, 2017 – AgriStability final deadline to pay fee for the 2017 program year.

December 31, 2017 – AgriInvest final deadline to submit tax information for the 2016 program year for those that missed the September 30, 2017 deadline. A penalty of 5% per each month or part month that the application is late will apply.

KAISER, Karl J. Dr. - Peacefully, after complications of a stroke, Karl Kaiser passed away on November 22, 2017 at the Greater Niagara General Hospital at the age of 76.

The seventh of nine children, Karl was born in St. Veit an der Gölsen, Austria and was son to Joseph Kaiser and Katterina Renz. After marrying Silvia Kaiser, Karl moved to Canada where he began a new life. While attending Brock University and raising a young family, he co-founded Inniskillin Wines and dedicated his life to Canadian wine. A husband, Papa and Grandpapa, Karl will be deeply missed and his memory cherished by his wife Silvia, three children Magdalena, Andrea (John), Maximilian (Mary Colleen) and seven grandchildren Ryan, Madison, Jacob, Willow, Maximilian, Sophia and Oliver, and by John, father to Maximilian and Oliver. He will be remembered not only for his passion for wine, but his wide grin and his unconditional love, generosity and kindness.

Cremation and private family interment have taken place. A celebration of Karl’s life will be held on December 8th, 2017 at The Hare Wine Co., 769 Niagara Stone Road from 5-9 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations to the Dr. Karl J. Kaiser Memorial Fund at Brock University, Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute. Karl had a special love of learning and sharing his knowledge, and was a graduate of Brock, where he later received his honorary doctorate. Donate online at www.brocku.ca/donate or by phone at 905-688-5550 ext. 4190. Cheques can be made out to "Brock University" with "In memory of Dr. Karl J. Kaiser" in the reference line can be mailed to Development and Alumni Relations, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1. Memories, photos and condolences may be shared at www.morganfuneral.com.